Kenyans turn Ruto's 'shoot-the-legs' order into meme resistance

President William Ruto addresses the public in Kilimani, Nairobi on June 9, 2025. [Courtesy]

Kenyans have turned President William Ruto's order for police to shoot protesters in the legs into a wave of memes and satire, using humour as protest against state violence and economic hardship.

Ruto's statement came in the backdrop of massive destruction and looting of property during recent protests across the country.

He said the destruction of property, including security infrastructure, amounted to terrorism and noted that those culpable would be dealt with using the full force of the law.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ruto said, "We want Kenyans to go on with their daily business undeterred. Whoever is found burning and destroying properties should be shot in the leg, taken to hospital and when healed, taken to court. They should not be killed."

Within hours, Kenyans flooded social media with images mocking the directive, including the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party symbol altered from a wheelbarrow into a wheelchair and memes showing young people on crutches heading to vote in 2027.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now leading the Democratic Change Party (DCP), shared an artificial intelligence-generated image of crowds on crutches.

"This is the war on the people who made him president. Instead of listening to their cries, he wants to cripple them," said Gachagua.

Fred Osoro, a youth activist, said, "Ruto has crippled the economy, now he is crippling the youth. His order to shoot protesters in the legs is unacceptable. It risks fatalities, unnecessary injuries and unjust killings. It violates our right to peaceful assembly. Withdraw this directive and stop the violence. Kenya deserves better."

On TikTok, one skit shows young men tying pillows around their legs before protests while another parodies a "Protester Leg Protection Plan" for bullet wounds and discounted crutches. Netizens coined the nickname "Wheelliam Ruto" while hashtags such as #LegShotPolicy, #WheelchairEconomy and #RutoTheCrippler trended across X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Facebook.

Victor Kiprotich, a social media user, said, "We soldier on now has a different meaning in Kenya after Wheelliam Ruto's shoot-the-legs directive. We are not our parents."

Political analyst Wanjiru Gikonyo said, "This meme culture is not just comedy it's political resistance. When citizens feel they can't be heard, they use humour and imagery to fight back."